Shooting victimto be charged

Wednesday

ELLWOOD CITY - A man shot Friday night in Ellwood City's North Side neighborhood is going to survive his injuries and be charged with drug offenses, Ellwood City police said.

Alex Hohbach, 22, of 324 Hazel Ave., Ellwood City, was shot as many as five times in the abdomen and legs during a scuffle around 7:30 p.m. Friday during what police said was a drug deal gone bad.

Hohbach was taken to Ellwood City Hospital and flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where officials are not releasing information on his condition. Lt. David Kingston, Ellwood City's acting police chief, said Tuesday that Hohbach will recover from his injuries.

The suspected shooter, John Rickel, 18, of 806 Chestnut St. Rear, New Castle, has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, possession of an unlicensed firearm, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery or theft, and possession of a controlled substance.

Police said Rickel and Andrew Montgomery, 19, of 808 West Clayton St., New Castle, had made arrangements to buy marijuana from Hohbach and John David Bailey, 19, of 610 Wampum Ave., Ellwood City, and were to finalize the deal Friday evening.

During the transaction, Rickel and Hohbach began to fight and Rickel shot Hohbach, police said. Ellwood City police Officer Michael McBride said Rickel told police that Hohbach tried to rob him, but at least one other witness said Rickel was trying to steal drugs from Hohbach and Bailey.

While investigating the shooting, police said they found more than one ounce of marijuana in Bailey's home, along with drug paraphernalia associated with drug sales.

Based on that, police got a search warrant for the vehicle and said they discovered cocaine and more drug-selling paraphernalia.

McBride said police plan to file charges of drug possession with intent to deliver and other offenses against Hohbach and Bailey, but nothing had been filed as of Tuesday.

Rickel and Montgomery were apprehended about two hours after the shooting, by officers from New Beaver and Ellwood City at a home in New Beaver. After arraignment Saturday before District Judge Scott McGrath, Rickel was placed in the Lawrence County Jail on $200,000 bond.

Montgomery was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery or theft, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and hindering apprehension. Police said he drove the getaway car for Rickel after the shooting.

Eric Poole can be reached online at epoole@ellwoodcityledger.com.

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